Help! I have a thrower!

[helle]

DS is going through a throwing stage... it's actually getting quite dangerous. He threw a screwdriver at DH over the weekend which Dh copped right in the middle of his eyes (I know he shouldn't have a screw driver in the first place, but DH was fixing something and it was literally a 2 second pick up and throw job before we could even tell him to put it down) and then he threw a train at my friends poor 10 month old babys head

Dare I mention he's also cracked our loungeroom window throwing one of those fisher and price blocks with the little animals inside them.

He's a gem. We've tried taking things off him that he throws, growling, ignoring him, a smack on the hand. Nadda.

Anyone got any miricle cures for me?

[HotI]

mmm, my DD is a bit of a thrower too. no cures but would love some tips too

[helle]

it's so frustrating. i've even gone as far as leaving things behind he's thrown out of a trolley while we were shopping. including this REALLY cool little safari car he threw while we were in the car park that was painted in leopard print spots ><;

[Cranky Kitten]

Maybe try giving him something that it's ok to throw and a safe place to do it in? Encourage him to get his fix and master the skill with soft foam balls in the backyard or something?

In addition to continuing on with the discouraging of throwing inappropriate objects - that way it becomes a substitution thing, and you can redirect his penchant for throwing in ways where others aren't in the firing line and aren't as likely to get hurt.

He'll grow out of it eventually, unless he's the next Brett Lee.

[Miss E]

DS went through a similar phase. When he would throw something I'd get it and say 'we dont throw xyz, if you want to throw something you can throw a ball' and then hand him a ball. It took a few weeks, but worked, he hardly every throws stuff anymore.

[helle]

If he's going to become the next Brett Lee he can throw all he wants then. So long as he makes enough money to pay for my broken windows ><;

I'll definately try the ball thing... will have to go stock up on foam balls!

[melsa31]

DS1 loved throwing things too As some of the others have suggested, we took things away and gave him better alternatives like soft balls and kept reinforcing the rules like, we only throw balls, we only throw outside, we don't throw things at people unless they're ready to catch because it can hurt them etc etc. Whatever he threw, we took off him and put it out of reach but where he could see and when he asked for it, we'd say no and remind him why it was there.

It took ages, but eventually he stopped and only does it occasionally now.

I found it very frustrating and so many things ended up getting broken. Fortunately it is a just another delightful phase they can go through!